Bomb-gun



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. CUNNINGHAM.

(No Model.)

BOMB GUN.

No. 256,548. Patented Apr.1 8, 1882.

@MKWW (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. CUNNINGHAM.

BOMB GUN.

Patented Apr. 18,1882.

Itwezzlbr @Mfl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, OF NEYV BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOMB-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,548, dated April 18, 1882.

Application filed January 26,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedl'ord, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Bomb-Gun and Harpoon, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to that class of bombguns which are darted at a whale, discharging a bomb at the same time that the harpoon enters the body of the whale.

This invention has for its object to provide a combined bomb-gun and harpoon which may be loaded and unloaded with ease and celerity, and one which will be safe to handle and use, and also one in which can be used my bomblance and cartridge combined, patented to me December28, 1875, which bomb-lance requires a breech-loading gun in which to be fired.

To this end my invention consists in the combination, with a hinged-barrel breech'loading bomb'gun, ot' a rod the rear end of which is adapted to fit in a socket attached to the breech-piece of the gun, that part of said rod which is inclosed in said socket being provided with a spur or projection adapted to pass through an elongated slot in the side of the breech and connect with and actuate the firing devices when the rod is shifted to the rear by means of a force brought to bear upon its front end.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 indicates a side elevation of my improved combined bomb-gun and harpoon, showing the socket in which the shifting rod works in its proper position. Fig. 2 indicates an elevation of the under side of the gun, and showing in broken lines that portion of the shifting rod contained within the socket, together with the spur projecting into the breeclrpieoe. Fig. 3 represents a view of the shifting rod and spur, and also a longitudinal section of the socket in which it is inclosed. Fig. 4 is a view of the breech-piece of the gun as shown in Fig. 1 with the socket removed, so as to show the 1 elongated slot in the side of the breeoh'piece. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the breech-piece, showing the firing mechanism,

and also the end of the spur with which the shifting rod is provided, connecting therewith. In Fig. 1 G indicates a rod adapted to slide in the socket B. This rod or bar may be of one.

entire piece; but it is preferably made in two pieces and joined by being screwed together, or by other suitable means, as shown in Fig. 3 at 6. By making'the rod in two pieces, as

shown in Fig.3, and removably attachingthem together, a new piece can easily be substituted for the front portion of the red when it becomeshent or broken. This rod is made of a suitable length, so that it may project beyond the muzzle ot the gun a suitable distance.

In Fig. 3, Bis a sectional view of the socket. (J is the shifting bar, and g is the spur with which it is provided. dis a spiral spring contained in the bottom of the socket B, which serves by its expansion to keep-the spur g from contact with the firing mechanism until the proper time. The position of the bar 0, the spur g, and spring 71, when attached to the gun, is shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 is shown an offset in the bar 0 at d, which offset is for the purpose of allowing the barrel of the gun to tip forward on its hinge when being charged with a bomb without coming in contact with the front portion of the bar 0. V

In Fig. 4, 1 indicates the slot in the side of the breech-piece through which the spur 9 passes to connect with the firing devices.

One great advantage of my invention is that, all parts of the firing mechanism beinginclosed in the breech-piece, it is impossible to discharge the gun except by a force exerted on thebar G to shift it to the rear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a breech-loading bombgun, having a hinged barrel and provided with the slot 1, with the socket B, having spring 1',

and the rod 0, provided with the projection g,

substantially as shown.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM. Witnesses:

EDWARD J. LUoE, F. A. MILLIKEN. 

